Improvement in carriage-tops



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. PRESKO, NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CARRIAGE-TOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,933, dated April 1, 1879 application filed September 18, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that ,1, FREDERICK A. PREsKo, of the city, county, and State ot' New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Carriage-Tops, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical section when the top is turned up. Fig. 2 is a similar view when the top is turned down. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the combination, in a carriage-top, with its flexible covering and its swinging bows, of stren gthening-strips running parallel to the bows, and connected to the covering, link-bars hinged to the strengthening-strips and to the bows, and elastic straps secured to the link-bars and extending across one or more of the strengthening-strips, so that by pulling down the strengtheningstrips, one on each side of the center bow, the top can be readily folded and turned down, and by releasing said strengthening-strips the top expands automatically bythe action of the elastic straps, and at the same time a carriagetop is obtained which is superior in strength and durability.

In the drawings, the letterA designates the seat of a carriage, and the letters B C D designate the bows, which swing on pivots a, and form the support for the covering E. Between these bows are situated the strengthening-strips F G, (one or more,) on each side of the central bow, C, and these strengtheningstrips are connected to the bows by link-bars, which are hinged to the bows and strengthening-strips--that is to say, the strengthening-strip F connects to the bow B by linkbars H, and to the center bow, C, by linkbars I, and the strengthening-strip G connects to bow D b'y link-bars J, and to the center bow, C, by link-bars K.

In the example shown in the drawings, I have shown three pairs of linkbars on each side of the center bow7 but this number will be increased according to the size of the carriage-top.

Each pair of link-bars H I is connected by elastic strapsA L, and each pair of link-bars J K by elastic straps M. (Best seen in Fig. 3.) A suitable lining conceals the bows, the strengthening-strips, the link-bars, and the elastic straps.

To the strengthening-strips F and G is connected a strap, N, and if this strap is pulled down the carriage-top folds up, and it can then be readily turned down to the position shown in Fig. 2. A suitable fastening serves to retain it in this position. Vhen this fastening is released the top unfolds automatically by the action of the elastic straps.

It will be readily understood from this description that b v the action of the strengthening-strips and of the link-bars the durability and strength of the covering are materially increased, and a carriage-top is obtained which can be easily folded and unfolded, and which is not liable to be torn by strong winds or other forces to which it may be exposed.

Another great advantage of my invention is, that by its application the proper shape of the carriage-top is preserved.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, in a carriage-top, with its flexible covering and its swinging bows, of strengthening-strips running parallel to the bows and connected to the covering, linkbars hinged to the strengthening-strips and to the bows, and elastic straps secured to the link-bars and extending across one or more ot' the strengthening-strips, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of September, 1878.

FREDERICK A. PRESKO.

Witnesses W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

